At least three people died in Zanzibar after a ship carrying cargo and passengers from Dar es Salaam capsized upon reaching the port on the semi-autonomous archipelago, a port official said today.
The ship, which sank late yesterday evening, was sailing from the east African nation's commercial capital Dar es Salaam.
"I can confirm three people have died. Twenty seven have been rescued, but we are trying to see if there are any more survivors," Mustafa Jumbe, director of state-run Zanzibar Port Corporation, told reporters.
Officials did not immediately have more details of how many people were missing.
A witness said at least one person at the scene of the accident said his wife and daughter were missing.
State-run Zanzibar Television showed pictures of the upturned boat with divers trying to go underneath it to search for any survivors today.
Reuters